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Leen Verbeek: ''Major challenge for European democracy today is linked to the issue of diversity''

Leen Verbeek: ''Major challenge for European democracy today is linked to the issue of diversity''[09/10/2012]

'Local communities in Europe are becoming increasing multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious. The true challenge is to find ways of using this diversity for the benefit of the entire community”, stated Leen Verbeek, Queen’s Commissioner of the Province of Flevoland and member of the Congress’ Council, at the working session of the World Forum for Democracy on “Multiple identities and living together” in Strasbourg, on 9 October. Stressing the key role that local and regional authorities represent in meeting this challenge, Verbeek highlighted Congress initiatives, such as the European Local Democracy Week, the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for Roma Inclusion as well as the Council of Europe 2011 Report of the Group of Eminent Persons. “A new model of participatory democracy must necessarily involve migrants, foreign residents and minority groups, and must go hand in hand with their integration”, he concluded.
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